Patriots: The Wright stuff

Saturday

Dec 26, 2009 at 12:01 AMDec 26, 2009 at 10:26 AM

Mike has all the Wright moves. The New England Patriots' fifth-year defensive lineman, originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Cincinnati, exhibited them during last Sunday's 17-10 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Glen Farley/Gatehouse News Service

Mike has all the Wright moves.

The New England Patriots' fifth-year defensive lineman, originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Cincinnati, exhibited them during last Sunday's 17-10 win over the Buffalo Bills.

"I was having fun out there," Mike Wright said. "I knew I was going to play significantly and I had to step up and take the place of Ty (Warren). Those are some big shoes to fill, so I just tried to make my presence known and kind of feed off the rest of the team."

Feed off the rest of the team?

Feasted on Buffalo would be a more accurate description of what Wright did at Ralph Wilson Stadium last Sunday.

Moved around the defensive line, after the coaches' review of the game film Wright was credited with 10 tackles, with a 4-yard sack of Ryan Fitzpatrick and a quarterback hit, all of which added up to one rave review from the head coach.

"He had a tremendous game, about as good as a defensive lineman can play really," Bill Belichick said. "All the things he did in the running game, passing game, pursuit. He played a couple different positions - left end, nose, actually had some snaps in sub (defense)."

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Wright has proven to be a "super sub" since he signed with New England after no one called his name during the 2005 NFL Draft.

Used primarily in a backup role, Wright registered a career-high 47 tackles in 2006, another 33 last year and entered this season with 108 tackles in his career.

While starting half of the Patriots' 14 games this season - three at end, three at tackle, last Sunday on the nose - Wright has totaled 44 tackles with five sacks, the latter figure exceeding his career total entering this year by one.

"It's not difficult," Wright said of the life he often leads as a man on the move. "I'm used to it by now. I've been doing it for a while. I'm ready to be thrown into the fire whenever they're ready to (call on him)."

According to Wright, the days leading up to the Patriots' trip to Orchard Park were no different than the days that preceded any other game this year, no different than they would be heading into this Sunday's game with the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium.

"We're always behind each other, pushing each other, getting each other ready," Wright answered when asked if he'd received any words of advice from Vince Wilfork - the Patriots nose tackle who is in the midst of a Pro Bowl campaign - prior to the game with the Bills. "It was no different than any other week."

Ah, but game day was.

Wilfork (foot) was down. Warren (ankle) was out. Wright was in. On this day, the Patriots' defensive line was all about the Wright stuff.

Wright made tackles at the point of attack. His first stop limited running back Marshawn Lynch to a 2-yard gain on Buffalo's first possession of the game. He made tackles in the Buffalo backfield, sacking Fitzpatrick for a 4-yard loss on the Bills' second possession. He tracked down Josh Reed 29 yards downfield in the fourth quarter at the 12, a pure hustle play that loomed large as that drive died when the wide receiver flat-out dropped a fourth-down pass at the 3-yard-line one minute later.

"I've started games before and I've been in there for the whole game before," said Wright, "so it's just take advantage of the opportunities when they're given and I tried to do that to the best of my ability (against the Bills)."

In the coach's estimation, he did.

"It feels good, especially coming from Coach," Wright said of the words of praise. "I try to up my standards a little bit every game. I expect a lot out of myself and I think (Sunday) was a product of my preparation and my hard work throughout the week."

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